U.S. cruises past Argentina

Kobe Bryant came out swinging--17 points on 6 of 8 shooting, 3 for 4 from distance, in his first 10 minutes of play to be exact.

As did Carmelo Anthony--demoralizing Argentina with his brand of offensive versatility which has characterized his play in this tournament. He made the play of the game with a monster finish over a hesitant Argentinian help defender.

With both teams boasting 6-0 records heading into this quarter-final round, ESPN and other media outlets made it sound like this was going to be a game. It didn't take long to realize, this wasn't.

With many of the original players from the 2004 Argentinian national squad including Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto missing from action, the U.S. once again displayed the kind of individual and collective dominance that has placed them comfortably for an Olympic berth.

Make no mistake, Argentina is no slouch. These guys can flat out play. And they certainly posted (at least on paper), a respectable final score of 91-76, which is closer than the U.S. blowouts in the tournament thus far.

It's just that when you're going up against behemoths like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Amare Stoudamire with Jason Kidd running the show with a dazzling array of half-court tosses and back-door dimes, it puts the opposition on tilt. And when teams become hesitant, they create turnovers, much like Argentina did in this game, due to their reduced scoring options and consequent turnovers.

In contrast, the U.S. creates match-up nightmares for the defense, because they can attack in unlimited ways. On one play where Lebron James took a loose-ball and was fouled for a basket-count, the Argentinian center, Scola was the one on the floor, seemingly hurt for a second. It was evident that on an individual basis, these guys will overpower and outrun 90% of international competition. They train harder and are pulled from the deepest talent pool in the world.



























(Josh Howard with the two-hand flush)

This is a different brand of basketball than that of the '92 Dream Team, but it's just as fun to watch. School was in session any time any one of the U.S. players took the ball in their hands tonight. I'm no longer questioning the talent that this roster consists of, and these games can only get better as the U.S. faces stiffer competition against Spain and Greece in the Olympics.

For Team U.S.A., the first 4 games were a warm-up. The last 3 a reminder that they can take on better competition. But if there's one thing missing from this team, it's a consistent and fluid offensive execution. Their defense has been amazing, with Kobe Bryant putting heavy pressure on guards, and Lebron and others waiting to make steals, but their offensive execution leaves much to be desired.

The pros and cons of assembling an All-star team is that the subtle nuances of playing championship basketball are seemingly lost. Most of these guys are franchise players on their respective NBA teams, and each have their unique ways which make them great. So in this sort of assembly of All-star talent, the fundamentals to a great team operation like ball movement and help defense take a back seat to sensational plays like guards tossing half-court alley-oops and power forwards bulldozing their way through 2 opponents.

So what are the true prospects of Olympic Gold? They certainly have a great opportunity in their hands, but you and I both know those hopes can be squandered rather quickly when matched up against a superior team. In order for U.S.A. basketball to regain glory, they'll have to realize that it will take substantially more than dunks and 20fters.

No Carnival for Brazilians in Vegas

"U.S.A. basketball is not a tropical storm, it is now a full-fledged hurricane."

At the end of the 1st quarter of U.S.A./Brazil, I was planning on writing up an article on how the two South American soccer powers were now part of world basketball elite.

That statement most certainly would have been premature, as the U.S. cruised to another easy victory over Brazil, 113-76.

Against a confident and physically capable Brazilian team, led by current NBA players like Leandro Barbosa, Nene Hilario, and soon to be NBA player, Tiago Splitter, Team U.S.A. seemed disoriented matched up against a substantially better international team.

But those first quarter uncertainties didn't linger for long, as Lebron James' playmaking in the 2nd quarter, opened up the floor for Michael Redd and Kobe Bryant to hit open threes. Carmelo Anthony was off to another fast start as he was the beneficiary of many easy buckets.

In the 3rd quarter, a series of spectacular plays courtesy of the NBA's best, sealed the deal for the U.S. Back to back threes by Kobe Bryant, followed by a Lebron- Carmelo alley-oop connect, and seconds later, a stolen inbounds pass led to a basket-count for Lebron James. They were up by 26 at this point.

The team would go on to stretch the lead at one point to nearly 50, with a combination of individual domination, and with less frequency, a seamless team operation.

But the story of the game was Kobe Bryant's lock-down defense on the leading scorer in the tournament, Leandro Barbosa, who entered this game with 27 points per. For much of the first 3 quarters, Bryant would play air-tight defense on Barbosa, as soon as he got the ball. This proved to be the key to setting the tone for Team U.S.A. Barbosa would finish with 4 points.

The first three games of the tournament for the U.S. were characterized by a high-octane offense that was largely led by Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, and Lebron James in the open floor. I'm sure Mike D'Antoni has a hand in much of the fast-breaking inclinations of the team.

But tonight's game required team U.S.A. to play in more half-court sets due to the Brazilians' excellent help defense. This is where veteran players like Kobe Bryant excel. With a player like him in the mix, there are no wasted movements; everything is under control. And this is just the sort of subtle leadership that the previous teams were lacking.

In an example of veteran leadership and control, Coach K can watch with confidence as Chauncey Billups drains a pull-up three in transition. In past outings for the Bronze medal teams, these sort of shots would have been all too frequent and without promise. But the new additions to this team include some tough competitors that have endured 82 seasons in the premier league, and for those like Chauncey, have once or twice reached the pinnacle of basketball. In every definition of the word, these are veterans.

On another sequence, Lebron James threw a perfect pass to a cutting Kobe Bryant.

This is showtime.

There are resemblances of the former greats, like Magic and Michael.

Lebron to Kobe.

This is their generation. They are showing the world why America is still home to the best basketball players in the world.

If it's any indication after the first 4 preliminary games, the European powers like Greece and Spain better brace themselves. The former glory of the U.S.A. is returning, and although too early to call, this team is well on its way to shining brighter than those Las Vegas lights on the horizon.

Old NBA clips

Just found these awesome clips of NBA All-Access from the 2006 NBA Allstar game.

Some behind the scenes footage and humorous moments from the game's best.

Enjoy! (I sure did).

Mid-Summer Chatter

What's good my peoples?

Sorry for the neglect, this past week. There hasn't been much to write about in mid-summer.

I'm gonna switch it up a bit and get to some relevant hoop topics, not worrying so much about my writing style.

First topic of the day: Tim Donaghy. Stern's worst nightmare seems to have come true. He's apparently gonna rat out the other officials who may have been involved in gambling at one time or another. ESPN reported that there may be up to 20 league officials that may have been involved in gambling, which is against the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its officials.

There can't possibly be a worse look for the NBA than this. It takes away from the integrity of the game, and that's a problem. We'll just have to listen to the developments as they come.

Second topic: Team USA heading into the FIBA Olympic qualifying matches. A top 2 finish will secure a spot in the '08 Olympics. They should be able to easily finish on top with the amount of proven talent and competitive spirit that this team has, something that was lacking in recent outings for the US of A. You can bet I'll be watching. Full report to come!

Third topic: A more equal balance of powers in the league? To some degree, with Boston's pickups. But let's be real. The Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns are still the West's top dogs, and are still the teams to beat in the league.

Fourth topic: Former And1 players become part owners in new Streetball organization, Ball 4 Real. Many of the original ballers that paved the way for streetball popularity, such as A.O, Main Event, 1/2 Man, 50, Mr. 720 (formerly Air up There), and others have jumped ship from AND1. From what I've read and watched on old ESPN Streetball episodes, there's been numerous times when players were expressing their discontent with management, pay, and overall climate of basketball. I wouldn't blame them. The OGs were being dismissed while the new cats were turning AND1 as the authority on street ball to more of a circus act. AND1 has taken their game outdoors once again, (as a move to re-establish street credibility?) and this was essentially the straw that broke the camel's back for the real ballers, who were confused and disgruntled as to a seemingly regressive move.

Ball4Real is having a nationwide tour in arenas. This is basically in line with what AND1 was doing until this year. As far as popularity goes, AND1 may still be popular, and the one with their ESPN documentary show, but Ball 4 Real definitely has the potential to overtake them in the long-run. As far as street credibility, those cats have more of, than the new breed AND1 players who are mostly about show. And that's ultimately what will reel in exciting talent.


Alright, so that was a brief rundown of hoops-related topics. What yall think about this format of writing? Leave me some comments if you wish.

756

Bonds hits 756.

Why am I talking about baseball on a basketball blog?

Because this story draws parallels to a superstar basketball player.

Follow along.


Fireworks lit up AT&T Park as Bonds trotted around the bases in an almost nonchalant manner. Only there was nothing nonchalant about this record. The frenzy of the Giant diehards and the unity of the Bonds family was evidence enough that this was truly a great milestone.

From the beginning of the season to now, Hank Aron stayed solid in his stance that he would not be able to make it the game to watch Bond's surpass his home run record. Many speculate that he wanted to keep his distance and uphold his dignity as the natural slugger and one of the all-time greats of baseball.

But when all was said and done, Aron appeared on the ballpark big screen, acknowledging Bonds' achievement. It almost seemed as though he were some divine figure, accepting and understanding all of the son's challenges, faults, and ultimate perseverance.

Amidst the clouds of speculation surrounding his use of steroids for several years now, one can only begin to imagine a day walking in the shoes of Barry Bonds. His case for innocence seems even more hard to prove, with the chemist at Balco claiming Bonds knowingly took the performance-enhancer. His slugging numbers in the eyes of baseball experts prove to be an anomaly as some of his most prolific seasons as a power hitter came after the age of 35; around the time Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa shattered Roger Maris' single season home run record.

As one of the most polarizing and controversial baseball players of our time, he's been labeled a fraud by opposing fans, bashed by media analysts, and heckled by throngs of fans holding up asterisks at every stadium he entered this season.

And then, at the other end of the spectrum, the forever loyal San Francisco fans. A city, much like other big sports-crazed cities. A city of different people embracing all of a professional athlete's tribulations and triumph.

So by the time, Bonds had smacked his 765th into the right field stands and the noise started to settle, I began thinking.

This is all too familiar sounding. A story about how the city's love and acceptance of a player spreads to the entire nation. A story about an isolated and misunderstood athlete displaying a vulnerability and humility seldom seen in them. A story about one man's displays of fault and ultimate redemption.

The name is Kobe Bryant. The city is Los Angeles. The year was 2004. His dilemma was different from Bonds' in that it was an off-court incident, but everything else was the same. A media blitz covered the Bryant sexual assault scandal and sponsors retracted their endorsement deals with the once clean-cut wholesome role model of a figure. He admitted to the wrongdoings of adultery, but in the public eye, he was a sexual predator, and at the time a seemingly hopeless example of an athlete's image going down the drain.

Just like Bonds, he endured countless road games where opposing fans would boo him whenever he touched the basketball and presumably spent just as many nights in agony, self-remorse, and self-reflection. Where would he to go after this? His championship glory days seemed a fond and distant memory.

But the player chooses to continue striving to be the greatest player that ever played, baseball or basketball. Same hall-of-fame material, same work ethic. This is where the story begins to change.

Fans understand with time that athletes are humans, just as vulnerable to their greed or deceit or wrong-doing as any other human being. An off-court incident of mistakes could take its toll on a player's image, but not forever.

After all, whether it's the home runs or the three pointers, an athlete's reputation and image is still largely decided upon by a player's on-court performance. It's amazing how a single play can sway the undercurrents of an otherwise nightmarish season.

Following the dropped sexual assault allegations, Kobe Bryant went on to accomplish tremendous feats, including the 2006 season culminating with an 81 point outburst; turning the harshest critics into believers overnight. But his ultimate form of redemption would come in Game 4 of the 1st round slug fest with the Phoenix Suns. In front of a packed and nervous Staples Center crowd, Bryant, along with his young Laker teammates, staged one of the most miraculous comeback victories in Lakers history. Bryant would tie the game with a rainbow floater at the end of regulation, and sink the buzzer beater in overtime to put the max capacity Laker crowd into complete mayhem.

The sexual assault case was behind him. The team that had been completely clueless, scared, and disoriented in Bryant's presence were now jumping onto their leader and surrounding him with a sea of emotions; of jubilance, pandemonium and relief. For the team, and for Kobe Bryant, it was redemption of the sweetest kind.


















Their individual stories have yet to conclude though.

Bonds will no doubt face an uphill battle with a pending court case for allegations of steroid use, but for one night....just one night, the clouds seemed to disperse and Bonds seemed to be engulfed with a sense of resolution.

The game is what mattered to them the most, and it's only fitting that two stars would find their ultimate solace in the game itself.

KG arrives in Boston

As if those winters in Minnesota weren't cold enough. Kevin Garnett's career with the Timberwolves spanned 12 years, in which he averaged 20.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, and 1.7 bpg. Incredible stats by any one's measure.

But his tenure with the Wolves has been characterized by dismal results; having the notorious reputation of being perennial 1st round losers. Although there was one bright season in which he was joined by allstars Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell to claim the West's best record of 58-24 heading into the playoffs. Garnett finished with MVP honors posting impressive numbers yet again. But his team would go on to lose in the Conference Finals against the Lakers.

This was his city, his fans, and his mentor Kevin McHale.

Loyalty meant as much to him as winning.

Any other player would have bailed out long ago, but he stayed committed to a team that he felt responsible for. He was the franchise player. He never once doubted his abilities, nor did any one else for that matter. But he never won. Simple as that.

If there's anything harder for a professional athlete to do, it's to lose. Lose consistently enough and one begins to question their abilities to lead a team.

He saw Shaquille O'neal and Tim Duncan, arguably two of the greatest centers to play both get titles with their respective teams. But they were under much favorable circumstances; playing alongside great role players, a great coaching staff, and other great superstars.

After much speculation at the end of the 06-07 NBA season, the time finally came. It was time for KG to leave for greener pastures. The Wolves agreed to the biggest trade for a single player in NBA history, trading away Garnett for nearly half of the Celtics' roster along with two future 1st round picks.

He's got some help now. One is a veteran sharpshooter by way of the Seattle Supersonics, Ray Allen. And the other, a veteran scorer with the Celtics, Paul Pierce, who I'm sure is just as ecstatic to run with a veteran big man.

So the question is this. Will this work out for Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Celtics organization? It's really any one's guess at this point, but this team is in the East, and KG will likely be a dominant force in the middle. His turnaround 10 footers are still as good as any, and with Ray Allen opening up the floor, it'll be interesting to see how they turn out by mid-season.

One thing is for sure. From the Midwest to the Northeast, in KG's mind, green is as good as gold.